Title

Author

Thesis Defended

Fall 2014

Document Type

Thesis

Type of Thesis

Departmental Honors

Department

Environmental Studies

First Advisor

Sarah Rogers

Second Advisor

Dale Miller

Third Advisor

Charles Wilkinson

Abstract

The bituminous sands industry, also called the tar sands or oil sands industry, is under-researched and over sensationalized in media and academia. Environmental justice implications of the industry with regard to Indigenous populations creates a polarized environment. Polarization seems to be rooted in practical, quantitative, and rational considerations by affected individuals. When applying a feminist listening methodology, however, the perceptions of the Indigenous-industry relationships seems to be more informed by a personal conception of sustainability than rational, quantitative thought processes. This conclusion contains implications regarding the valuation and analysis of culture, and the nature of Indigenous-industry relations.